Adventure Detective (1947)

After leaving San Francisco for Hollywood, Jack Webb began work as the star of Johnny Modero. Previously playing Pat Novak (and still yet to be known for Dragnet), Webb and writer Richard Breen had hoped to revive the character for this old time radio show. Unable to do so, they created a new detective character with similar features – a chip on the shyoulder and comebacks like you wouldn’t believe.

The resulting show is fantastically funny, with little plot except to create situations to dish out Novakian mouthiness. A top notch cast (including Gale Gordon as the underhanded Father Leahy and William Conrad as the copper) makes this a most enjoyable show.